Page 37 of SIN Bone Deep

“I like witches.”

I slid him a look from the corner of my eye and wondered what it would be like with Mal as my demon familiar. No, I pushed the thought away. I was almost certain that would be a problem for Ender.

Mal didn’t seem to expect an answer and due to his speed, we were almost at the gates to the Academy. The driveway was empty of vehicles this time. Mal took a turn-off that took us back behind the school, to a car park filled with expensive vehicles – the student car park I realized from its proximity to the dormitory.

“How is it that you are a student here?” I asked him as he parked.

“Well, I applied,” he said loftily as he rounded the car to open my door. “I may have fudged the details a little,” he tucked my hand into the crook of his arm and led me away from the car towards the main building. “Just between you and me.”

“Why?” I asked, but I already knew the answer. Because this was where I was, and he was determined to toy with me to annoy Ender.

“To study… What is it that you’re studying again?” He held open a door for me.

“Comparative literature.”

“How dull,” he sneered. “What are we comparing about literature?”

“I can see that you’re going to be a lot of help as a study partner,” I sighed.

“You’ll be surprised at how resourceful I can be,” he led the way along the wood-paneled hallway and rapped his knuckles against a door that held the name placard “Dean Harvey Ashbourne.”

“Are you sure?” I started to ask as the door opened and Dean Harvey Ashbourne’s eyes went from Mal to me, his frown easing into a smile.

“Ah, I was just wondering where you were,” he said stepping back to admit us. “The tea is getting cold.”

“Sorry we’re late,” I was embarrassed. This was not the best start to a scholarship, being late to meet my tutor, especially if the Dean was that tutor.

“My fault,” Mal said lightly, crossing the Persian rug to where four leather wingback chairs were arranged around a small antique table in dark wood. A Wedgewood tea set sat waiting for us on a silver tray. Mal took one of the seats and lifted the teapot. “Should I pour?”

“Go ahead,” Dean Harvey Ashbourne gestured to him carelessly, before offering me his arm. “Let me show you to your seat, Elenyx.”

“Ah. Thank you,” I gingerly placed my hand on his forearm, unnerved by the old-fashioned courtesy. “I’m very sorry that we’re late.”

“It is fine,” he assured me with a smile releasing me to adjust the chair a little, and resting his hands on the back as I smoothed my skirt under my thighs and carefully sat. The chair was deep. If I sat fully back, I would risk the person opposite to me being able to see up my skirt, so I perched, awkwardly, my knees firmly pressed together.

“Sugar? No, you’re right. You’re sweet enough, Nyx.” Mal handed me the teacup by the saucer. “How about you, Mr Ashbourne?”

“No thank you,” Dean Ashbourne took the seat opposite to me. “I take it with lemon.”

“Of course, you do,” Mal smothered his smirk as he poured, and offered the tea across the table before settling himself back into his chair with his tea, delicately lifting the cup to his lips to take a sip and sending me a wink over the rim.

“Well, now that we are settled, this is just an informal meeting,” Dean Ashbourne set his teacup on the table. “To discuss the upcoming academic year. Nyx, I touched on the subject the other day with your aunt. Your scholarship included a room in the dormitory which you are welcome to take up at any time. Yes,” he cut me off as I began to defer. “I know that being so local, you feel that staying at home is logical, however, there is a lot to be gained from staying on campus. The social scene is much more accessible, and study groups and various other activities are much easier to participate in if your room is just a short walk away. At least, think about it. The room will be vacant anyway.”

“The social scene is really something,” Mal sent me a smirk. “You should think about it, Nyx.”

“Thank you, Mr. Veridian,” Dean Ashbourne inclined his head to Mal in appreciation. “Your school supplies and uniform will be available to be picked up from reception within a few days,” he continued to me. “If you have any questions, feel free to stop by this office at any time.”

“Any time?” Mal asked on an up note, his sincerity transparently false. “Any time, Nyx. That is a very generous offer from a very busy man, such as the Dean, don’t you think? Does that also apply to me, Dean?” He batted his eyelashes innocently. “Or just Nyx?”

“You are part of my tutor group, Mr. Veridian, so yes, the offer extends to you as well.”

“Wow,” Mal said turning wide-eyed to me. “You really should rethink that offer about a dormitory room, Nyx. It will make it much easier for you to take advantage of Mr. Ashbourne’s generous offer of availability, and vice versa. I’m sure it will make you much more accessible should he need to seek you out for any reason. She’ll think about it,” Mal told Mr. Ashbourne with a devilish smile, all sharp teeth.

“Very good,” the Dean frowned slightly at Mal, not as oblivious to Mal’s oddness as he seemed. “It’s important to set goals at the beginning of the year,” he continued. “And so, I set you that task for this week. We’ll meet at this time again next week and talk over your goals, and the hurdles you foresee to achieving them.”

“Like romance,” Mal said sweetly. “Romance can derail a student’s achievements for the year, can it not?” He explained when both the Dean and I looked at him. “If it’s with the wrong person, it could be the death of them.” He found that amusing and laughed into his teacup. “Literature is full of examples.”

“Mr. Veridian is correct. It is important not to let the heart distract you from your studies,” the Dean nodded. “But…” And he sent me a small smile, his eyes smoldering. “That is not to say that you cannot satisfy physical needs. We encourage students to consider their health wholistically, and sexual health is a part of that which is why the school nurse dispenses contraception free and without judgement.”

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